Do you have kids over there? If so, how do you feel about Teddy telling them that their efforts are a failure, and that if they die, they'll be dying for nothing. Do you think troops with resolve and a positive attitude are more or less apt to do well?
Do you think troops that are constantly accused of being "invaders", who are assumed to be commiting "atrocities" at will, and who are being told that they will enevitably lose will be apt to succeed?
Do you have the slightest understanding of the term "psycholocial warfare", or "propaganda"? If statements like this don't effect the fighting ability of a military, why do we use these exact statements as a weapon against OUR enemies during a time of war?
So, basically Ted Kennedy is using psychological warfare against the people of the US and our own troops, all to make himself look good for his party. Nice, huh? He's not fighting for Allah, or taking over the world, he's just ass-kissing and grandstanding and biting his own nation on the ass to do it. What a patriot... Maybe if a few thousand more troops die the Dems might gain a seat or two in the House. That makes it worth it, right?
The image isn't complete unless you picture him saying it with his pants around his ankles...
That betrays your bias. You assume that the election is "contrived". You assume that nothing will come of this before the endeavor is even complete. That isn't smart, or informed, it is defeatist. Sure, many people were defeatist before it started, and throughout, but that doesn't mean their dismal view of current events need be true.
Someone is always going to poo-poo any endeavor. Why? Because there are always disingenuous partisans, willing to attack any endeavor just to be on the other side. Ted Kennedy is a good example. It is much more than predicting failure, I think he truly wishes failure. He has a lot invested in it. The political mileage he could get out of those "I told ya so"s, to him, is far more important than his integrity as a leader.